Good morning…
I made a mistake. I hate being a mistake-maker. As soon as my error was revealed, I emailed a heartfelt apology. I went on with my late afternoon, to the bank, the grocery, the dry cleaners. Still the frustrating thought lingered, “My blunder inconvenienced people.” I dropped off my son’s car, picked up my husband, we enjoyed pizza out before he went to a meeting. I decided to take my time at the restaurant, leisurely finishing my meal, talked a bit with a few fun friends, then I walked home to the glow of street lights, a chubby crescent moon, and the unmistakable constellation long-ago named Orion.
Self-criticism still haunted me, so I googled “Quotes about mistakes and forgiveness.” God used these words to help me to begin forgiving my flawed self.
“MAKE MISTAKES – Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing the world. You are doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly you are doing something.” (Neil Gaiman). Curious, I googled “Neil Gaiman” and I happened upon a short YouTube video capturing his Advice to Aspiring Artists (see below).
After watching the brief clip, it struck me that if the street lights had decided not to do their single job, I would have walked home in pure dark. If the moon had neglected God’s invitation to light up the night, darkness would be deafening. And if Orion was told “There are too many stars in the sky, there is no need for you to shine,” we would all be without a beloved beacon of beauty. We are designed by God to do our single job, to accept God’s invitation to bring light to dark, and to shine as a beloved beacon of broken beauty.
“Men and women who have lived wisely and well will shine brilliantly, like the cloudless, star-strewn night skies. And those who put others on the right path to life will glow like stars forever” (Daniel 12:3, MSG).
…Sue…
